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PVC King, do you have to be so facetious – it is extremely poor taste considering.
Death of leading architect at age of 72
Ireland’s best-known architect, Sam Stephenson, has died suddenly following a heart operation at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. He was 72 and had been working on a number of major projects in the weeks prior to his death, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor.
Chiefly known as the architect of the ESB headquarters in Fitzwilliam Street, the Central Bank in Dame Street and the first phase of the Civic Offices at Wood Quay, he was one of the most colourful figures in the architectural profession.
His long-time partner in practice, Arthur Gibney, died last May.
For many years, their firm – Stephenson Gibney and Associates – dominated the architectural scene in Ireland, rivalled only by Scott Tallon Walker.
“It’s very sad news”, said painter James Hanley, secretary of the Royal Hibernian Academy. “I had met him at the RHA gallery only last Friday when he looked a bit poorly and he told me he was going in to St James’s for an operation.
“It’s shocking to think that Arthur, Sam and Charlie Haughey have all now passed away within months of each other”, Mr Hanley said.
Arthur Gibney had been president of the RHA, while the former taoiseach was a great friend and patron.
Sam Stephenson’s eldest son, Sam junior, is administrator at the RHA’s Gallagher Gallery in Ely Place. His wife, Caroline Stephenson, is a daughter of the late Fine Gael senator Alexis FitzGerald. The couple had two young sons.
“Caroline wanted me to do a portrait of Sam, but I just hadn’t got around to it”, said Mr Hanley, who recently painted Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
© The Irish Times
I am flumoxed – Arthur a couple of months ago, and now Sam… both of whom I had had the pleasure of meeting, both of whom were of assistance at different points although they were under no obligation to be.
RIP 🙁
@ConK wrote:
Here is a map of the Dorset St/NCR from 1813 hand drawn by the Wide Street s Commision, I was hoping that a big tree would feature somewhere on the map.
Nice one 🙂
Do you have any more of those for this area, ie Mountjoy Square, Blessington St & Basin?
One little thing that interests me, being a renowned symantic, is that “Belvedere” is spelt that way – as opposed to the “Belevidere” with an “i” that it has since been corrupted to in ref to this st.
@Morlan wrote:
I’m disappointed with this street and in particular the central median. Isn’t it meant for people to mingle and chill? At the moment it seems like a safety corridor for people to walk through quickly – “Take your photos of the Spire and then you’d better be on your way”.
Out of all the cities I’ve visited, Barcelona’s main though fare “Las Ramblas” has a lot in common with O’C St.
I think the new design of O’Connell street is flawed. The central median should have been a lot wider and the footpaths on either side didn’t need to be as wide. There’s nowhere for tourists and locals to sit and enjoy the street.
Spot on – the median should have been widened, not narrowed – a la the original mall, taxis should have been relocated onto Cathal Brugha St, public seating would be a novelty, while surely the nursery for street poles could have been somewhere else? And as for the way the bridge has been left so unresolved – ghost painted lanes etc… Maybe with the construction of the Airport Metro and Luas connector there may be an opportunity to get it right 😉
@PTB wrote:
I dont really understand the point of those polished steel lumps on the granite lumps. They seem to imply that only one person may sit on any side of the stone. I’ld prefer it they werent there.
I suspect theyre skate board deterrents – cant be having yoof hanging out making use of civic spaces now, can we :rolleyes:
@Dublin City Council wrote:
Dorset Street and Canal Area Plan
Urban and Village Renewal Programme (http://www.eustructuralfunds.ie)
The Plan was approved in 2001 as one of two areas in Dublin to benefit from funding under the above DOE/EU programme. The aim of the measure is to provide financial support for a range of interventions to upgrade cities, to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, encourage social and economic development of tourism and tourist related activitiesThe Dorset Street/Canal Area Plan focuses on a substantial area of the North Inner City. The area encompasses the spine of Dorset Street, The Royal Canal. Despite its strategic location in relation to the city centre, and the strength of some of its components, the area has suffered from an image of decay and low investment.
In May 2002, the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern unveiled a major rejuvenation plan for the Dorset Street area. Initially the plan was to concentrate on improving the Dorset Street corridor from Drumcondra to Capel Street plus the nearby Royal Canal. This would also provide for improvements to the nearby areas of Mountjoy Square, Summerhill, Ballybough, Hardwick Street, and Dominick Street etc. This plan was prepared to tackle the challenges posed for the area, and to compliment a number of existing improvements.
After a period of consultation with the local community and businesses in the area, the following key aspects of the plan were identified. Improving the quality of paving, lighting, street furniture and planting, Furthermore to maintain and restore the water body of the Royal Canal, to establish opportunities for infill development and improved streetscape, to provide new/improved play facilities, and to introduce CCTV systems.
To date the following have been achieved in addressing these priorities:
· The refurbishment of No.15 Henrietta Street to house Na Piobairi Uillean Interpretive and Heritage Centre.
· The installation of a high quality children’s playground in Mountjoy Square Park.
· The complete resurfacing of the carriageway on Dorset Street.
· The opening of a Dublin City Council Area Office on Dorset Street to cater for the provision of services for local residents.
· A precinct improvement programme at Sheridan Court, including the installation of security railings, hard and soft landscaping, lighting and repaving.
· The refurbishment of the tow-paths along the canal from Summerhill Parade to Jones Road and from Cross Guns Bridge to Binns Bridge, including the installation of new lighting and CCTV cameras, the resurfacing of the tow-paths and the erection of a statue to Brendan Behan.
· The completion of the section from Whithworth Road to St. Alphonsas Road. A tree-lined central median has been installed on the East and West side.By the end of November we will see the completion of the section from Binns Bridge to Eccles Place. The final section of the canal from Jones Road to Binns Bridge is also due for completion along with the installation of a new pocket park, including a children’s playground, for Portland Place.
(Taken from: http://www.dublincity.ie/living_in_the_city/your_area/central/central_area_projects/dorset_street_and_canal_area_plan.asp )“major rejuvenation” my arse – we are 5 years on and the only noticeable changes are:
– Dorset St is now a central axis in DCCs Inner Orbital Route
– A few trees being planted in the central median, a couple of months before the election. There are no plans to extend this as far as Capel St/ Bolton St junction, which would have struck me as the logical starting/ finishing point.
– The little bit of landscaping outside the flats as photod by Graham, which I also like. Ftr this scheme was designed by Mitchell and Assocs.Whats really needed here is a strategic assessment – not the (albeit well-meaning) superficial treatment that is then described as a “major rejuvenation”.
A couple of points that I have noted about the street:
1 On the City Development Plan maps, it is marked down as “Dorset St Corridor“: this speaks volumes about how it is viewed and so then how it is treated. It is somewhere to drive thru as opposed to being of merit in itself – something which I believe is having a devestatingly crippling effect on the adjacent areas in that this spinal street divides as opposed to uniting this area.
2 Road markings, parking arrangements, and footpaths have not been altered since the 1980s – despite it being on the Inner Orbital Route; hence at various places 2 lanes merge into 1, while at other spots parking may or may not be allowed according to the time of day. There is no sense of permanency or structure in these arrangements; the st serves a purpose to the wider community in terms of thru-traffic, but this should be managed in a way that does not deprive the street of functioning within its own terms.
3 It is a hostile environment for the pedestrian and non-car users; footpaths should be dramatically widened – especially in the context of the above, where there are currently just useless half-lanes. Traffic refuges and islands – not a dualer / parnell st style median please – should be inserted at strategic locations such as the junctions with Blessington St, Eccles St etc.
4 An environmental and architectural audit desperately needs to be carried out. Certain buildings have charm or architectural interest but are lost in the current context; this includes blind arcaded windows in 18 c terraced buildings, the disgracefully run-down home of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the fire station, and the terrace of what should be grade A georgians at the corner with Blessington St – which are unfortunately covered in gray render. Any regeneration worth its salt would target these as a landmark project for repointing etc.
Another significant problem is the lack of engagement by many properties with the st; one could make an exception for the gothic revival corner of Dominick St Lwr, but there are many others for which there is no excuse – such as the flats on the corner of Dominick St Upr which are perpendicular to the st… And then theres the massive site formerly occupied by a garage opposite the former wax museum (Mongeys, I think); I have checked in woodquay and could find no record of an application on this site – if this is simply site-hoarding, then it is completely unacceptable and should be CPO’ed under 212 of the 2000 act. It is a priority that this be redeveloped to a high specBut aside from all of this, the relationship of usage is very important; what cultural institutions can you think of on the st that you would ever go to? Perhaps in relocating the central library maybe DCC should look at the venitian fire station. Before density is looked at, I suggest usage should be targeted – and only then should it be looked at upping the density in an overall conext, imo. Time for a “Dorset St District” as opposed to “Corridor”? 😉
@GregF wrote:
Look at the DIY Signwriting on the shoe shop too ….euggh!…..Sums up the attitudes of many shopsowners in Ireland …aka amateurs.
Now, now, leave McCarthy’s alone – its where I was always brought to get shoes when I was a chisler ]disaster[/U] it almost merits a thread onto itself! How and ever, ftr some of my thoughts on it are this:
Parnell Centre & cinema – Blank wall with no interaction with the st; this building is worthy of an academic study onto itself as to how poor design and financial difficulties coincide. The lack of resolution in the traffic management outside speaks volumes as to DCCs commitment (or lack of) to the area. How many more years will the now defunct dual carraigeway be left as is (with traffic going one way only); the existing arrangement directs some motorists to break the law by having to cross over a continious white line.
New apartments at corner of Moore St/ Parnell St on top of Ilac centre:
I keep on reading as to how standards in apartments are now much better than what they were 10 years ago; go and have a look at these if you think thats the case. I did + I was appalled. Endless (and damp smelling)corridors, poor detailing, cigarette burns left by builders all over the place – particularly on the way into the penthouse; and if you want a real laugh, have a look at the “penthouse” for which they are looking for €2500 per month – the floor to ceiling ratios etc – not a location for anyone looking to have a cat-swinging competition. The windows in the lobby areas do not appear to open – nor do they appear to be of self-clean spec; Im sure theyll be a lot of fun. And then there’s the lifts… No I wont bother going on, just go and look for yourself. (I was really astounded at the poor quality given the profile of the practice involved)A general disappointment that I have, not confined to Parnell St, is the lack of utilisation of the roof areas as roof gardens; where they do occur, they tend to be tokenistic – I just find it baffling given the amount of flat rooves that are being erected anyway :confused:
Anyway thats my rant over for today! 😉
Roche overturns ‘crazy’ rezonings
THE Government made a dramatic move yesterday towards tackling the blight of urban sprawl.
In an unprecedented clampdown, a council was ordered to overturn dozens of rezonings.
And Environment Minister Dick Roche warned others they would face similar curbs.
It signals a significant block on the free-for-all planning that has allowed developments to spurt up in inappropriate places where there are hopelessly inadequate road, water, school and shopping services.
Mr Roche heavily criticised the “irresponsible madness” of Laois County Council in allowing so many houses to be built in such a short space of time.
He said such haphazard planning would destroy villages and towns and build up social and infrastructural problems for years to come.
He warned councils if they allowed some of the country’s prettiest villages to be turned into vast housing estates he would intervene again.
It is the first time the emergency ministerial power, under Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act, has been used to scupper an agreed local authority development plan.
The council will now have to go back to the drawing board after the Government struck down the widescale rezoning of land for development around 24 Laois villages.
The action came because of fears that the villages affected by the “irresponsible” rezoning had inadequate infrastructure to cope with a massive increase in population. The move has wiped out potential profits for affected landowners in Laois running into hundreds of millions of euro.
They stood to make massive windfall profits from the agreed rezonings which have now been revoked by the ministerial order.
Development land in Laois zoned for housing can fetch up to €400,000 an acre, depending on location, compared with just €15,000-23,000 for agricultural land.
Mr Roche said yesterday that existing householders and new owners living in these villages faced inadequate water, sewage or school facilities if the plan, which involved dramatically increasing their population, had been permitted.
It would have created a new generation of long-distance commuters consigned to a desperately poor quality of life, the minister told the Irish Independent yesterday.
At the moment, there was enough land rezoned in Laois to cater for the entire region for another 15 years and the rezonings were only benefiting “a few landowners”, he said.
Mr Roche said if Laois councillors – the majority of whom are Fine Gael – were not prepared to do their job properly, he would do it for them.
“I cannot stand over bad planning. It is the families who live there and those that will move in that will suffer,” he said. “I am sending out a clear message that I am not going to tolerate bad planning. We should have learned the lessons of the past.
“This is madness and is grossly irresponsible. . . . They were planning to turn some of the prettiest villages in the entire country into vast dormitory ones for commuters and create communities which would have to wait a generation for the necessary infrastructure.”
Slammed
The Laois plan would have increased the county’s population from 80,000 to more than 150,000.The villages affected are: Arles, Attanagh, Ballacolla, Ballinakill, Ballybrittas, Ballyfin, Ballylynan, Ballyroan, Borris-in-Ossory, Camross, Castletown, Clonaslee, Clough, Coolrain, Cullahill, Emo, Errill, Killeshin, Newtown-Doonane, Rosenallis, Shanahoe, the Swan, Timahoe and Vicarstown.
The move was slammed by Fine Gael general election candidate Charlie Flanagan, a former TD, who claimed the decision was politically motivated.
Michael Lalor (FG), cathaoirleach of the council, said most of the rescinded rezonings had not been supported by Fianna Fail councillors and he also believed the minister’s decision was politically motivated.
“These were zoned with the best of intentions,” he said. “We have never witnessed anything like this and I don’t know what’s at the back of it. All those villages will be developed and we were putting things in order to allow that happen.”
Treacy Hogan and Paul Melia
© Irish IndependentFTR Adamstown is also being cited as an example of NU – walkable community, shops + school close-by, serviced by mass transit/ rail etc. But if you want to get really radical, its “New Pedestrianism” that you should be looking at 😉 🙂
Just got this from Tom Morrissey today:
Please find attached a direct link to the New Heart for Dublin Conference
being held on 20th October at Dublin Castle. Please feel free to forward to
your circulation list.http://www.newheartfordublin.ie
Regards.
Senator Tom Morrissey.
Speakers are to include: Tanaiste Michael McDowell, Senator Tom Morrissey, Senator David Norris, Frank McDonald, Sean ‘Dublin Bay’ Loftus, Jurgen Bruns-Berentelg, Tony Reddy, etc – its worth having a look at their site, but I’ll post some of their blurb below anyhow. Suspect I’ll see some of you there.
Hutton.
From website (http://www.newheartfordublin.ie):
A one day conference comprising Irish and international experts who will discuss a new vision for Dublin Bay, including its port.
THEN
On Thursday the 15th December 2005, Senator Tom Morrissey and Tanaiste Micheal McDowell TD launched a discussion document entitled “A New Heart for Dublin’ in the Clarion Hotel on Dublin’s north quays.
The document was intended to generate discussion about redeveloping Dublin Port as a centre for cruise liner traffic, as part of a major urban regeneration project.
“This has the potential to create a spectacular Manhattan-style approach to Dublin by sea. The plan draws on international experience in cities like Helsinki and Barcelona where run-down port areas have been transformed beyond recognition. It would breath life into Dublin Bay, which is currently an underused asset,†Senator Morrissey said at the time.
“Industrial port activity should be moved gradually from the already over-stretched Dublin Port to Bremore, north of Balbriggan. This would free-up 600-plus acres of Ireland’s most valuable real estate for phased redevelopment, which could include housing, office accommodation, shops, waterfront promenades and green spaces.”
The proposals also aims to deliver a truck-free city.
“When you consider that Irish imports and exports have grown five-fold since 1990, then it is really no surprise that Dublin Port currently has a capacity problem. The worrying reality of the situation is that the Port is likely to run out of capacity by 2008. The consequences for our economy will be profound as exporters and importers face increasing delays and costs in getting goods to market.
“This proposal by the Progressive Democrats is intended to spark debate on how best to develop Dublin Bay – a unique asset in the heart of our capital city. We welcome submissions and ideas from members of the public and interested groups on how the bay can be best used for the people of Dublin,” Senator Morrissey concluded.
NOW
The proposal has been well received in all areas of society that further public discussion was obviously needed. The over-riding question asked by many people was “Now do we make it happen?” hence the sub-title of this important conference. Respected speakers from all over Europe have been brought together to discuss how we can move forward with this radical concept.How have other cities dealt with these issues? How can it be funeded? How best to ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated again? These questions and more will be addressed by the speakers in our Conference Schedule.
To book a seat at this important conference please click here.
“At at price in excess of €30 million per acre, Dublin Ports land bank of 660 acres could release between €15 billion and €20 billion on a phased basis to fund much needed infrastructure in the vicinity of the new port at Bremoreâ€
@jimg wrote:
I’m easily risen to a state of indignation by unsympathetic new buildings around Dublin but this building is simply ALL WRONG. Its design willfully ignores all the context provided by what I consider one of the most important stretches of streetscape in Dublin – that between Christchurch and the front of Trinity College. It makes no acknowledgment of the gently curving line of Dame Street]no sympathy for the grain of buildings across the road or across Palace Street. It’s relationship with the latter is a huge wasted opportunity. That section of Palace Street had the potential to be an oasis like Foster Place but would have been even better as there is a reason for people to use it. Instead the side of the building acts like an unwelcoming towering wall destroying the balance of the laneway and hulking over the Sick and Indigent’s.[/B]
However it the galvanised gantry and worse still the nasty galvanised stairs on the western side (is it a fire-escape?) which really make the effort look cheap and nasty. I don’t think any of the photos so far do it justice. You have to see this thing in the flesh to appreciate what a huge mistake the council has made.
The only redeeming and interesting feature for me might have been the dome had the placement, bulk, relationship to Palace Street and Dame Street and quality of materials had been up to scratch.
The most damning aspect of a building like this is that it constitutes a powerful argument for the case for sticking with boring unimaginative semi-pastiche or postmodern designs for urban infill in historic streetscapes. Even the nasty early 90’s apartment block behind this thing is better conceived. I am the opposite of a conservative when it comes to architecture but this is awful.
Nail, hammer…Spot On, Jimg.
Junk. Thats the first thing that comes to mind. The second is that this crock seems to bear more of its references to Sam’s buildings such as Bunkers on Wood Quay (with its horizontal slits, polished granite, glass curtaining etc), than to the gems around it, ie City Hall, the Castle, the bank etc.
Where there was lightness of touch required,such as its resolution with Sick and Indigents, the pencil must have been yielded with as much grace as a sledge hammer.
Why the horizontal slits, when if reference to the architecture of forts was to be made, vertical loops would have been far better?Is it that DCC wanted to demonstrate that they are still as capable as they were in Wood Quay days in terms of inserting wholly innappropriate schemes in + against the historic city? At this rate, between here and Henriettta St corner, Dublin will soon be able to give courses to visiting architects on how not to infill strategic locations at heritage areas.
BTW Tve finally figured out what the much-maligned gantry is for – it’s to hang bad architects. 😉
@ctesiphon wrote:
A little birdie told me that the pressure to go high on this site came from the developers rather than from the architects or the planning consultants, despite professional opinions expressed to them that height would not be permitted in this location.
Course it came from MP Homes – they were the ones who stood to benefit most! Not that DBM have anything against towers – see Donnybrook scheme for instance – http://skyscrapernews.com/imagesall.php?self=nse&ref=1355&idi=Donnybrook+Tower&selfidi=1355DonnybrookTower_pic1.jpg&no=1
Mind you that scheme raises (no pun intended) other interesting issues]good[/I] planning :p
All in all a good day for good planning + a bad day for blighters! 🙂
Frederick O’ Dwyer’s “Lost Dublin”, (Gill & Macmillan published 1981,82,85)) has a full A4 page devoted to it on p142 also showing 1 drawing. Lost Dub is probably available in Ilac or Pearse St Libraries – hope this helps! H.
Feck, feck, feck. I would never have got that; with the string coursing band, Id have expected it to continue – and so too a floor at that level.
A obviously isnt Connolly; so there too I am wrong:(
And as you say G was got already. Maybe the blind (ie me who sould have seen that mentioned already) shouldnt be playing this game
*puts on coat, gets up and goes home – head hanging in shame* 🙁 😮 🙁
Cant believe I described Broadstone as Greek Revival; it is of course Egyptian Revival – so 😮 😮 to me!
Hey Morlan, what say Jimmys place on Amiens St for A…Choo, choo, choo 🙂
B is really doing my head in at this stage. I think SoG is right – but its worse than he says; 4 outstanding, not 3! We are losing it :confused: 😡 🙁 …But dont give away the game just yet, I know well get there eventually –
As for G is it on hoarding around a site under construction? Come on give us a clue;)
@Morlan wrote:
A few more bins and seats on the quays. Job done.
Rofl:D
Dublinspirations is an excellent publication + one that An Taisce should rightfully be proud of.
Since the boardwalk has been constructed, I reckon theres a case to be made that the river side foot path should be removed, which would then mean that the path in front of the shops and buildings could be doubled in width: Any takers?
Unfortunately, to get back to TP’s point, I would guess that 90% of vehicluar traffic along the quays is not HGV. That traffic is likely not only to remain, but thanks to this governments crap car-favoured policies, is in fact probably going to get worse 😡
Sorry to piss on the parade 🙁
H
This story seems to keep trundling on. Gordon ‘Sindy'(cate) Deegan seems to have really fixed himself on this as an ace in the hole for the summer 😉
The Irish Times: Chairman of An Taisce in Clare offers to resign
The chairman of the Clare association of An Taisce yesterday offered to resign in response to the abuse heaped on the organisation in the recent past.
Oliver Moylan said if there was anyone in Co Clare who would like his position, he would gladly step aside. Mr Moylan’s offer follows the Clare association being forced to withdraw its objection to a plan by journalist Fintan O’Toole to extend his second home near Ballyvaughan after the organisation labelled the plan “criminal” and likened it to an infection on the Clare coast.
In the Seanad, An Taisce came under sustained attack, with Senator Brendan Daly (FF) claiming the organisation had harassed and made life miserable for the ordinary people of north Clare for years. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) said the preposterous language used in the objection showed a darker side to the organisation.
The withdrawal of the objection followed Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) claiming at a Clare County Council meeting that An Taisce was Ireland’s only secret society that receives State recognition.
Yesterday, Mr Moylan said all An Taisce received for trying to protect Clare’s landscape “is unadulterated abuse”.
“I would like to emphasise to the people of Clare how difficult it is becoming to try and protect many of our beautiful areas. Some are gone beyond redemption and places like Kilkee, Lahinch and Fanore are cases in point. Protecting Lough Derg all along the east Clare side from unbridled development is becoming an impossible task.”
A Fianna Fáil member of Clare County Council had equated An Taisce to al-Qaeda and the CIA, he said. “Was it right or fair to put me and my colleagues in that category? Are we not due an apology from Bertie Ahern, leader of Fianna Fáil? I would like to say to the people of Clare that An Taisce’s concern is to pass on to the next generation our heritage and environment, as near possible as we inherited it. The first act the present Government did when it came to power was to remove An Taisce’s annual subvention of €170,000 per annum.”
Gordon Deegan© The Irish Times
The Phoenix: Fintan O’Toole’s country ‘cottage’
THE TWEEDIES in An Taisce were in a right state last week when it emerged that a submission on Fintan O’Toole’s plans to extend his country retreat contained the world “criminalâ€. However, the bad news for Fintan is that Frank Corcoran, Ian Lumley and the rest of the heritage posse still have a submission safely lodged. On top of this, the Irish Times columnist has to deal with sniping from his own colleagues in the IT.
When O’Toole lodged his plan to increase the area of his Ballyvaughan property from 39sq m to 180 sq m with a split level extension, it came to the attention of the Clare branch of An Taisce as would normally be the case. In that part of the country, Anny Wise, based in Shannon Town, is the long-term co-ordinator of the local committee and she lodged a routine submission objecting to the scale of the plan.
So far, so good. However Wise was then contacted by local (unnamed) residents who gave the offensive quote containing the references to an “infection†and describing the proposal as “criminalâ€. Bizarrely the words were then inserted into a second An Taisce submission. Head office in Dublin was unaware of the nature of the submission as only appeals are coordinated through Tailors’ Hall. There was consternation when the story appeared in the national papers, given the ongoing battle by An Taisce to fend off its growing numbers of critics – notably within Fianna Fáil – who saw to it that the conservation organisation was completely excluded from the new Heritage Trust.
The incendiary submission was immediately withdrawn by head office and an apology issued. Not surprisingly, a complete review of procedures is now taking place with vetting procedures to be put in place for submissions. But the first An Taisce submission remains in situ and O’Toole faces a long hard fight, especially given the concerns already expressed by Clare County Council.
Back in The Irish Times Fintan has other critics to deal with, notably fellow columnist John Waters, who penned a scathing piece this week clearly talking about Fintan and referring to “pseudodiscussion†driven by “metropolitanism, snobbery, spurious aesthetics, dinner party politics and a fundamental lack of perspective on what life is aboutâ€. He even refers to “one lofty Dublin-based commentatorâ€, quoting from a previous article penned by O’Toole defending An Taisce, before going on to “express solidarity with Fintan O’Toole with an address in Ballyvaughan who has recently attracted the attention of the busybodies in An Taisce because he seeks to extend his modest Co Clare property by some 462 per centâ€.
Ouch!
© The Phoenix@a boyle wrote:
almost all the cycle lanes are a joke.
Nail + hammer. Crap designs by rd engineers who couldnt give a toss, LA’s that think the tracks are only to be used by either misfits or foreigners, and a general thatcherite mindset of “anybody who is still using public transport by 30 is a failure”. 😡
A little bit more info on this building –
It was built by a Scottish architect called Fergusson, and actually dates from c.1850 – some 30 years later than one would think:eek:! It was abandoned in the early 20th century – probably around the time of UK Govt of Ireland Act, and subsequently was used as a granary storage depot. Finally in the 1980’s it burnt down – possibly arson – and all but the facade was pulled down. A very sad story indeed. 🙁 🙁 🙁
BTW Aoife, that is totally true re thje Abbey facade – I have the info on excellent authority 😉
